ATLS Post-Test Exam Questions and Answers |Fall 2026/2027
Update | 100% Correct
Question 1
Hypertension following a head injury:
A. Should be treated to reduce intracranial pressure
B. Indicates pre-existing hypertension
C. May indicate imminent hernation from critically high intracranial pressure
D. Mandates prompt administration of Mannitol
E. Should prompt burr hole drainage of potential subdural hematomas
Correct Answer
A. Should be treated to reduce intracranial pressure
Page 1 of 50
,Question 2
An 8 year old boy falls 15 feet from a tree in a sprout to the emergency department by his family. His vital signs are normal,
but he complains of leftover quad pain. And abdominal CT reveals a moderately severe laceration of the spleen. The
receiving institution does not have 24 hour a day operating room capabilities. The most appropriate management of this
patient would be to:
A. Type and crossmatch for blood
B. Request consultation of a pediatrician
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
E. Prepare the patient for surgery the next day
Correct Answer
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
Question 3
42 year old man injured in a motor vehicle crash, suffers a closed, head injury, multiple palpable left roof fracture, bilateral
femur fracture. He is intubated orotracheally without difficulty. Initially, has ventilations are easily assisted with a bag
device. It becomes more difficult to ventilate the patient over the next five minutes, and his hemoglobin oxygen saturation
level decreases from 90% to 89%. The most appropriate next step is to:
Correct Answer
Auscultate the patient's chest
Page 2 of 50
,Question 4
Regarding shock in the child, which of the following is FALSE?
A. Vital signs are age-related
B. Children have greater physiologic reserves than do adults
C. Tachycardia is the primary physiologic response to hypovolemia
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in adults
E. An initial fluid bolus for resuscitation should approximate 20ml/kg Ringers Lactate
Correct Answer
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in adults
Question 5
A 22 year old male is brought by ambulance to a small community hospital after falling from the top of an 8 foot ladder.
Initially, he was found to have a large right pneumothorax. A chest tube was inserted and connected to an underwater seal
drainage collection system with negative pressure. A repeat CXR demonstrates a residual, large right pneumothorax. After
transferring the patient to a verified trauma center, a third chest x-ray reveals a persistent right pneumothorax. The chest
tube appears to be functioning and in good position. He remains hemodynamically normal with no signs of respiratory
distress. The most likely cause for the persistent right pneumothorax is:
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmatic injury
C. Pulmonary contusion
D. Esophageal perforation
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Correct Answer
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Page 3 of 50
, Question 6
Which of the following statements are correct?
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the frontal region
C. Subdural hematomas are caused by injury to the middle meningeal artery
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a lenticular shape on CT
E. The associated brain damage is more severe in epidural hematomas
Correct Answer
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
Question 7
During an altercation, a 36-year-old man sustains a gunshot wound above the nipple line on the right, with an exit wound
posteriorly above the scapula on the right. He is transported by ambulance to a community hospital. He is endotracheally
intubated, close tube thoracostomy is performed, and 2 liters Ringers lactate solution are infused via 2 large-caliber IVs. His
blood pressure now is 60/0mmHg, heart rate is 160 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute
(ventilated with 100% O2). The most appropriate next step in managing this patient is:
A. Laparotomy
B. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
C. Arterial blood gas determination
D. Administer packed red blood cells
E. Chest X-ray to confirm tube placement
Correct Answer
D. Administered packed red blood cells
Page 4 of 50
Update | 100% Correct
Question 1
Hypertension following a head injury:
A. Should be treated to reduce intracranial pressure
B. Indicates pre-existing hypertension
C. May indicate imminent hernation from critically high intracranial pressure
D. Mandates prompt administration of Mannitol
E. Should prompt burr hole drainage of potential subdural hematomas
Correct Answer
A. Should be treated to reduce intracranial pressure
Page 1 of 50
,Question 2
An 8 year old boy falls 15 feet from a tree in a sprout to the emergency department by his family. His vital signs are normal,
but he complains of leftover quad pain. And abdominal CT reveals a moderately severe laceration of the spleen. The
receiving institution does not have 24 hour a day operating room capabilities. The most appropriate management of this
patient would be to:
A. Type and crossmatch for blood
B. Request consultation of a pediatrician
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
E. Prepare the patient for surgery the next day
Correct Answer
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
Question 3
42 year old man injured in a motor vehicle crash, suffers a closed, head injury, multiple palpable left roof fracture, bilateral
femur fracture. He is intubated orotracheally without difficulty. Initially, has ventilations are easily assisted with a bag
device. It becomes more difficult to ventilate the patient over the next five minutes, and his hemoglobin oxygen saturation
level decreases from 90% to 89%. The most appropriate next step is to:
Correct Answer
Auscultate the patient's chest
Page 2 of 50
,Question 4
Regarding shock in the child, which of the following is FALSE?
A. Vital signs are age-related
B. Children have greater physiologic reserves than do adults
C. Tachycardia is the primary physiologic response to hypovolemia
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in adults
E. An initial fluid bolus for resuscitation should approximate 20ml/kg Ringers Lactate
Correct Answer
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in adults
Question 5
A 22 year old male is brought by ambulance to a small community hospital after falling from the top of an 8 foot ladder.
Initially, he was found to have a large right pneumothorax. A chest tube was inserted and connected to an underwater seal
drainage collection system with negative pressure. A repeat CXR demonstrates a residual, large right pneumothorax. After
transferring the patient to a verified trauma center, a third chest x-ray reveals a persistent right pneumothorax. The chest
tube appears to be functioning and in good position. He remains hemodynamically normal with no signs of respiratory
distress. The most likely cause for the persistent right pneumothorax is:
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmatic injury
C. Pulmonary contusion
D. Esophageal perforation
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Correct Answer
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Page 3 of 50
, Question 6
Which of the following statements are correct?
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the frontal region
C. Subdural hematomas are caused by injury to the middle meningeal artery
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a lenticular shape on CT
E. The associated brain damage is more severe in epidural hematomas
Correct Answer
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
Question 7
During an altercation, a 36-year-old man sustains a gunshot wound above the nipple line on the right, with an exit wound
posteriorly above the scapula on the right. He is transported by ambulance to a community hospital. He is endotracheally
intubated, close tube thoracostomy is performed, and 2 liters Ringers lactate solution are infused via 2 large-caliber IVs. His
blood pressure now is 60/0mmHg, heart rate is 160 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute
(ventilated with 100% O2). The most appropriate next step in managing this patient is:
A. Laparotomy
B. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
C. Arterial blood gas determination
D. Administer packed red blood cells
E. Chest X-ray to confirm tube placement
Correct Answer
D. Administered packed red blood cells
Page 4 of 50
